The “Tree of Ages” is as ancient as it sounds in the InuYasha universe! Not only is it the meeting place of Moroha’s parents (InuYasha & Kagome) in “InuYasha” (the main series), but it’s also the location keeping Rin ageless!
Ageless you say? Ever since Yashahime revealed that Rin is Towa and Setsuna’s mom, the fandom went wild!
If you’re ever wondering how the Tree of Ages serves as a plot device to Yashahime, well then, look no further!
Rin is stuck in the Tree of Ages so the silver-scaled curse that Zero placed on her will slow down.
If Kikyō didn’t suggest to Jaken to place Rin inside the Tree of Ages, the silver-scaled curse would have likely spread and eaten at Rin’s body from the inside!
What do We Know About the Tree of Ages?
Fans who’ve watched the InuYasha anime during the early 2000s should know about the lore surrounding the Tree of Ages: it’s the connector between the Present and the Sengoku Jidai (the “Warring Era of Japan”).
Kagome may have traveled through the Bone-Eater’s Well (the wood of which was also made from the branches or bark of the Tree of Ages)!
But if the well is akin to a time-traveling machine (since only InuYasha and Kagome can go back and forth through time and space using the Bone-Eater’s Well), then doesn’t that make the Tree of Ages akin to a STOPPING POINT (similar to a “bus terminal”, a “shipping dock”, or an “airplane’s runway”)?
When Kagome first laid eyes on InuYasha in the main series, fans must remember that InuYasha’s time has STOPPED!
Even if half-a-century has transpired in the very first chapter of InuYasha, the physical appearance of the half-dog/half-demon is similar to a 16-year-old boy!
Fans often forget this critical detail about the Tree of Ages in the popular InuYasha franchise! So, when I initially saw Rin sleeping inside the Tree in Season 1, it has never crossed my mind that she’s literally stuck as a “Sleeping Beauty” gal inside the Tree of Ages (and that her aging also ceased)!
InuYasha and Yashahime fans often overlooked the importance of the Tree. But let’s not forget that this Tree is also where everything STARTED (it’s not just a STOPPING POINT).
From Kikyō and InuYasha’s tragic love story setting to Kagome and InuYasha’s first meeting place — the Tree of Ages couldn’t that be more important to re-wounding Rin’s fate in the series!
Who is Lady Zero in Yashahime?
Zero is a demon whose time also stopped (revealed in Episode 7 of Yashahime)! She stopped her time because she does not want to age — ever!
As the older sister of Lord Kirinmaru, Zero wants to revel in her glorious youth and beauty while she’s still an all-powerful demon!
But she is plagued by dilemmas because she wants to get rid of the accursed half-demon twins that the human Rin gave birth to for the cold and calculating Lord Sesshōmaru!
Zero believes that Towa and Setsuna bring misfortune to full-fledged demons like Kirinmaru and Sesshōmaru!
Not that Zero ever cares for her older brother nor Sesshōmaru! But, just to satisfy her carnal desires, she will kill the twins even if it means taking Rin hostage!
Zero is infuriated how humans are still loved even if they wrinkle away and age, which is what makes her bold statement to Rin more impactful:
“Those who are loved are fated to end in beauty.”
This implies that Rin will still be beautiful and be loved by Lord Sesshōmaru despite her mortal body aging!
Zero might just be jealous of humans like Izayoi (InuYasha’s mom) and Rin.
But we must remember that it was not Zero who sealed Rin to the Tree of Ages — it was the “Spirit of the Tree of Ages” (whose appearance happens to take shape and form as Lady Kikyō — a former shrine maiden when she was human)!
Why Must Rin be Placed Inside the Tree of Ages?
Rin was an 18-year-old woman when she got impregnated by Lord Sesshōmaru!
And if you’re wondering, no, there wasn’t a wedding…at least, not that we’ve known or heard of! There was no wedding scene between Rin and Lord Sesshōmaru in Yashahime!
But Sesshōmaru gifted Rin a kimono in “InuYasha: The Final Act”. And there was also that radio CD drama (voices only) of Sesshōmaru proposing to Rin !
![[Vietsub + Engsub] Inuyasha CD Drama - Asatte - TRACK 5 - END](https://www.epicdope.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FMaVHUvTQJ1I%2F0.jpg)
Anyway, Setsuna even told the Spirit of the Tree of Ages (Kikyō), “My mother looked so young!” when inquiring about the sleeping Rin!
Therefore, even after 14 to 15 years have passed in Yashahime, Rin’s appearance inside the Tree of Ages is that of an 18-year-old woman!
Rin must be sealed inside the Tree of Ages to slow down the silver-scaled curse that Zero placed on her.
In addition, what’s keeping Rin “alive” are:
- the Tree of Ages that’s sealing her body (thus, essentially stopping her body from aging and rotting away due to the effects of the silver-scaled curse); and
- The dreams and sleep that the Dream Butterfly Spirit is bringing to her.
Take note that the “Dream Butterfly” is a demon! It possessed Setsuna by stealing her sleep and dreams, essentially transferring her memories and visions to Rin!
Sesshōmaru severed the Butterfly’s tie to Setsuna by cutting it with his Tenseiga sword, finally freeing Setsuna from her sleepless nights!
How can Rin be Freed From the Curse?
Rin can be freed from Zero’s silver-scaled curse when Setsuna cuts the Dream Butterfly tying the two women!
Sesshōmaru already revealed this answer to Setsuna, as well as this statement, “It’s up to you to master your naginata — your Yukari no Tachikiri.”
If Setsuna can master her Yukari no Tachikiri sword, she’ll be able to sever the threads of fate binding Rin to Zero!
It won’t be an easy task as when Setsuna tried cutting the Dream Butterfly tying her fate to Rin, she couldn’t wield her sword properly!
Severing a spiritual creature like the demonic Dream Butterfly takes guts! Sesshōmaru was able to cut it because he has lived for centuries!
But Setsuna’s only half-demon. She still has lots of training to do before cutting the red threads of fate tying the Dream Butterfly between Rin and Zero!
About Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon
Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is a TV anime series produced by Sunrise. It is a sequel to the Inuyasha series, based on the manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi.
Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon follows the adventures of Sesshomaru’s half-demon twin daughters, Towa and Setsuna. When they were young, the half-demon twins were separated from each other during a forest fire. While desperately searching for her younger sister, Towa wandered into a mysterious tunnel that sends her into present-day Japan.She is found and raised by Kagome Higurashi’s brother, Sota, and his family. Ten years later, the tunnel that connects the two eras has reopened!
This allowed Towa to be reunited with Setsuna, who is now a Demon Slayer working for Kohaku. But to Towa’s shock, Setsuna appears to have lost all memories of her older sister.Joined by Moroha, the daughter of InuYasha and Kagome, the three young women travel between the two eras on an adventure to regain their missing past.
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